• Wellington Coles Leonard

    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks
  • B-24H-15-CF  'Tender Comrade / Ole 369' 41-29369
    Aircraft from the 467th at "Bombs Away" on mission #099 to bomb the airfield at Dole-Tavaux, Fr. The lead ship is 41-29369 'Tender Comrade/Ole 369' followed by 42-52394 'Palace Meat Market/Scrapper'. '369' is flown by Harvey Prescott Pettit and crew #097-R0. '394' is flown by Wellington Coles Leonard and crew #082-R1 (on their 2nd mission).

    Source: Fold3
  • Mission #132 - Hanau, Germany
    This photo was taken from 42-94931 ‘Sack Time’ (flown by Donald Eugene Reab and crew #026-R1) flying in the #2 position of the 2nd Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.

    Seen just below the wing of ‘187’ is 42-95004 ‘The Honey Wagon’ (flown by George W Mills and crew #042-R2) flying in the 1st (Lead) position of the 2nd Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.

    The plane in the distance just below ‘The Honey Wagon’ is 42-51671 (flown by Wellington Coles Leonard and crew #082-R1) flying in the #2 (Deputy Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.

    Just beyond ‘671’ is ‘Lead’ PFF ship from the 466th BG, 42-95109 ‘Shamrock’, flying in the 1st (Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron

    Of the last two aircraft, the one above is 42-51154 ‘Silver Dollar’ (flown by Robert David Sheehan and crew #080-R2) flying in the #3 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron

    The last ship is 44-10607 (flown by David Hallock Nash and crew #035-R2) flying in the #4 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron


    Crew on ‘Sack Time was -

    Donald Eugene Reab - Pilot
    Charles Arthur Pappas - Co Pilot
    Albert August Henke - Navigator
    Shirley WIlliam Frederickson - RCM Operator
    Lyle Clayton Secor - Engineer
    Jerome Degen - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Richard Roy King - Radio Operator
    Anthony Ralph Marrone - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Irvin Louis Greenburg - Tail Turret Gunner
    Melvin Eugene Knapp - Gunner



    Crew on ‘The Honey Wagon’ was -

    George W Mills - Pilot
    Nathan Myron Hatkoff - Co Pilot
    Theologos A Missiras - Navigator
    Robert Hartford Wyckoff - Bombardier
    Michael Grinkiavicius - Engineer
    Hugh Ryan Cassels - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    James Alexander Dick - Radio Operator
    James Edgar Ulerick - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    John Warner Rinesmith - Tail Turret Gunner
    Glen Clay Peery - Gunner


    Crew on ‘Silver Dollar’ was -

    Albert Joseph Shower - Command Pilot
    Robert David Sheehan - Pilot
    Anthony Robert Smolar - Navigator
    William Charles Evans - Pilotage Navigator
    Robert Edward Dolan - Bombardier
    John Hall Sawyer - Engineer
    Clarence Edwin Love - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Martin Leo Altenburg - Radio Operator
    John Raymond Healy - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Elbert T Sablotny - Tail Turret Gunner
    Robert Edmond Baker - Gunner


    Crew on ‘671’ was -

    Edward Hooten - Command Pilot
    Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot
    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
    Walter John Chappas - Pilotage Navigator
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
    Leonard Remetta - Engineer
    Charles James North - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
    James William Stergis - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Leslie William Malone - Tail Turret Gunner
    Emil Walter Hampa - Gunner


    Crew on ‘607’ was -

    David Hallock Nash - Pilot
    Abraham Charles Serwitz - Co Pilot
    Charles Peirce - Navigator
    William G Simpson - Toggler
    Conrad Holton Olsen - Engineer
    Joseph Paul Saban - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    George Hatalosky - Radio Operator
    Robert A Hudson - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Martin Victor Bona - Tail Turret Gunner


    Source: 467th BGA Archives
  • Mission #132 - Hanau, Germany
    In this second photo (again taken from ‘Sack Time’) is the 1st (Lead) flight of this 1st (Lead) Squadron, with 42-95187 from the 2nd Flight in the foreground. Note how the 466th BG PFF ship is now moved to the #3 position and Col Shower (in ‘Silver Dollar’) has moved back to the 1st (Lead) position.


    The first to ships on the right are the ‘Lead’ and ‘Deputy Lead’ ships from the 467th BG. The one above is 42-51154 ‘Silver Dollar’ (flown by Robert David Sheehan and crew #080-R2) now flying in the #1 (Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron

    The ship just below her is 42-51671 (flown by Wellington Coles Leonard and crew #082-R1) flying in the #2 (Deputy Lead) position of the 1st (Lead) flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.

    The next ship is 44-10607 (flown by David Hallock Nash and crew #035-R2) flying in the #4 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.


    Just above her is the PFF ship from the 466th BG, 42-95109 ‘Shamrock’, now flying in the 3rd position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron

    The Olive Drab (OD) ship in the middle is 42-94881 (flown by George William Condry and crew #034-R1) flying in the #6 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron.

    The ship most prominent in the frame is 42-95187 (flown by Ray Nickens and crew #035-R2) flying in the #3 position of the 2nd Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron).

    Lastly, and lagging just a bit, is 42-110168 ‘The Perfect Lady/Dirty Lil/Old Iron Pants’ (flown by John F Moffette with crew #038-R2) flying in the #5 position of the 1st (Lead) Flight of the 1st (Lead) Squadron











    Crew on ‘Sack Time was -

    Donald Eugene Reab - Pilot
    Charles Arthur Pappas - Co Pilot
    Albert August Henke - Navigator
    Shirley WIlliam Frederickson - RCM Operator
    Lyle Clayton Secor - Engineer
    Jerome Degen - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Richard Roy King - Radio Operator
    Anthony Ralph Marrone - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Irvin Louis Greenburg - Tail Turret Gunner
    Melvin Eugene Knapp - Gunner


    Crew on ‘Silver Dollar’ was -

    Albert Joseph Shower - Command Pilot
    Robert David Sheehan - Pilot
    Anthony Robert Smolar - Navigator
    William Charles Evans - Pilotage Navigator
    Robert Edward Dolan - Bombardier
    John Hall Sawyer - Engineer
    Clarence Edwin Love - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Martin Leo Altenburg - Radio Operator
    John Raymond Healy - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Elbert T Sablotny - Tail Turret Gunner
    Robert Edmond Baker - Gunner


    Crew on ‘671’ was -

    Edward Hooten - Command Pilot
    Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot
    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
    Walter John Chappas - Pilotage Navigator
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
    Leonard Remetta - Engineer
    Charles James North - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
    James William Stergis - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Leslie William Malone - Tail Turret Gunner
    Emil Walter Hampa - Gunner


    Crew on ‘607’ was -

    David Hallock Nash - Pilot
    Abraham Charles Serwitz - Co Pilot
    Charles Peirce - Navigator
    William G Simpson - Toggler
    Conrad Holton Olsen - Engineer
    Joseph Paul Saban - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    George Hatalosky - Radio Operator
    Robert A Hudson - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Martin Victor Bona - Tail Turret Gunner


    Crew on ‘881’ was -

    George William Condry - Pilot
    Frederick James Jansen - Co Pilot
    Lester Norman Anenson - Navigator
    Harvey Gunnar Erickson - Toggler
    Howard C Bright - Engineer
    Paul Joseph Hester - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Andrew William Csumy - Radio Operator
    Joseph Nathaniel Londeree - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Earl H Johnson - Tail Turret Gunner


    Crew on ‘187’ was -

    Ray Nickens - Pilot
    James A Martin - Co Pilot
    Lloyd Francis Koth - Navigator
    Robert William Harr - Toggler
    Ralph Gaines Townsend - Engineer
    John Clifford O’Connor - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Philip Joseph Hellsten - Radio Operator
    Ralph Wilbert Davidson - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Thomas Joseph Conners - Tail Turret Gunner


    Crew on ‘Old Iron Pants’ was -

    John H Moffette - Pilot
    Aaron Oken - Co Pilot
    Michael Steven Besich - Navigator
    Paul Greenfeder - Engineer
    Howard Joseph Blanchard - assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Edward James Ferrara - Radio Operator
    Virgil Duane Miller - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    James A Lang - Tail Turret Gunner
    Victor Thomas Bakan - Gunner


    Source: 467th BGA Archives
  • Landing after the mission
    41-29378 'Homeward Bound' landing after the mission to Hamburg. The farm by the 790th hardstands 31-33 is in the background, Also in the background in front of the farm can be seen 42-51671 returning to it's hardstand on the perimeter track.

    'Homeward Bound' was flown by crew #072-R1.

    Boyd Lee Woodis - Pilot
    Leon Manuelian - Co Pilot
    Hinton Lloyd Williamson - Navigator
    Robert Blair Allen - Toggler
    Carl Frank Pauer - Engineer
    James W Bowman - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Robert Clyde Ford - Radio Operator
    Percy Branden Wier - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    William Franklin Cooper - Gunner (Tail)

    '671' was flown by crew #082-R1.

    Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot
    * Billy Lynwood Johnston - Co Pilot
    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
    Leonard Remetta - Engineer
    Charles James North - Assistant Engineer (Waist Gunner)
    Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
    James William Stergis - Assistant Radio Operator (Waist Gunner)
    Walter John Chappas - Tail Turret Gunner
    Emil Walter Hampa - Gunner
    Leslie William Malone - Observer (Pilotage Navigator)

    *IR Report hard to read. Presuming Johnston was Co Pilot. Also, there may have been a Command Pilot. More research will reveal.

    Source: Walter Joseph Laughlin (Vet)
  • Officers of Crew #082-R2 on leave in London
    Photo was taken while on leave in London at Grosvenor House.

    From L-R:

    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator - Crew #082-R1
    Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot - Crew #082-R1
    Walter John Chappas - Pilotage Navigator - Crew #082-R1
    Alfred Gordon Landers - Bombardier - Crew #079-R1
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier - Crew #082-R1

    Most of these men originally flew with Wellington Coles Leonard (who is pictured) until he was made a Command Pilot and "gave up his crew. Earl Sonnenborg Jensen took over as pilot for the crew. Landers is a bit of an "outlyer" in this photo. He never flew combat with any of these men. He did, however, RZI on the same plane with them. Perhaps the photo was taken at the end of hostilities just prior to their return to the States.


    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks
  • Crew #082-R1 | Pilot: Leonard
    Standing L-R:

    Wellington "Wells" Coles Leonard - Pilot
    Billy "Bozy" Lynwood Johnston - Co Pilot
    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
    Walter John "Chap" Chappas - Pilotage Navigator
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
    Leslie William Malone - Mickey Operator


    Kneeling L-R:

    Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
    Charles James North - Gunner
    Emil Walter Hampa - Gunner
    Leonard (NMI) Remetta - Engineer
    James William Stergis - Gunner

    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks
  • Crew #082-R1 - Trucking Mission in France
    Photo was taken in France during the 'Trucking Missions' Pictured next to 41-29386 'Gerocko' -

    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigstor
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier
    Wellington Coles Leonard - Pilot
    Donald Royce Nelan - Radio Operator
    Walter John Chappas - Pilotage Navigator

    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks
  • Officers of Crew #082-R1 ride their bikes
    Taking a moment from their bike ride to pose for a photo are -

    L-R:

    Robert Eugene Hicks
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge
    Wellington "Wells" Cole Leonard
    Billy "Bozy" Lynwood Johnston

    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks
  • Members of the "Rats Ass Club"
    Backdoor of the Officers Quarters for the officers from crew #082-R1.

    L-R"

    Robert Eugene Hicks - Navigator
    Wellington "Wells" Cole Leonard - Pilot
    Billy "Bozy" Lynwood Johnston - Co Pilot
    Joseph Aloisius Hodge - Bombardier

    Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks